Shedeur Sanders' $6.5 million NIL valuation surpasses the amount earned by Deion Sanders from his five-year rookie contract

Shedeur Sanders is one of the most marketable players in college football. Thanks to the advent of name, image and likeness (NIL) revenue in collegiate athletics, the quarterback is able to profit from his marketability. With his prowess on the gridiron, Sanders boasts of a huge NIL valuation.

According to On3, Sanders currently has a NIL value of $6.5 million, the biggest among college athletes presently. He's been able to profit from his personal ability as a player and the legacy of his family in the sport to build a huge brand for himself.

To give a context of how big Shedeur’s NIL value is, it's bigger than Deion Sanders' entire rookie contract in the NFL. Prime Time was drafted as the No. 5 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1989 NFL draft, and he inked a five-year contract worth $5.2 million.

Shedeur Sanders’ NIL portfolio

Shedeur Sanders has inked an endorsement contract with a host of brands across the United States. The quarterback boasts of a host of notable companies in his NIL portfolio.

The list of brands Sanders is contracted to include Nike, Beats by Dre, Google, Mercedes Benz, Gatorade, Topps, Urban Outfitters and Oikos. The quarterback also has a long-standing deal with Gatorade, Brady Brand, Under Armour, PLB Sports and a host of other companies.

This goes to show how much the college football landscape has changed over time. Despite being classified as amateur level, student-athletes are now able to earn money for the service they’re rendering to college football programs. This wasn’t possible some years ago.

Shedeur Sanders' NFL rookie contract projection

With the New York Giants projected to grab the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, Shedeur Sanders is projected as the first overall pick in some quarters. This should earn him a relatively huge rookie contract in the NFL.

Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, inked a rookie contract worth $39.5 million with the Chicago Bears. Sanders is expected to sign a deal around that amount if he is selected as the first pick in the draft in April.